July 09, (THEWILL) — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced new visa restrictions for Nigerian nationals, including an outright ban on transit visa applications and stricter conditions for tourist visa approvals.
The new policy, which took effect this week, was communicated to travel agents via an updated directive from Dubai immigration authorities.
The move marks a significant tightening of entry requirements for Nigerians, particularly those seeking short-term visits or layovers.
Under the revised guidelines, Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 45 will no longer be granted tourist visas unless they are accompanied, although the circular did not specify who qualifies as an acceptable escort.
For Nigerians aged 45 and above, the tourist visa process now comes with steeper financial scrutiny. Applicants in this age category must submit a six-month personal bank statement reflecting a consistent monthly closing balance of at least $10,000 (or the naira equivalent).
In addition, supporting documents such as confirmed hotel reservations and valid passport data pages are still mandatory.
Travel operators say the transit visa category has been completely suspended for Nigerian passport holders, with no alternative provisions in place.
The policy change comes less than a year after the UAE lifted a two-year visa ban on Nigerians, a move that was widely welcomed at the time and seen as a signal of improving diplomatic relations between both countries.
Although UAE authorities have not issued an official public statement explaining the rationale behind the new restrictions, industry stakeholders believe it is part of a broader effort to regulate migration and tighten security screening, especially for countries previously flagged for visa overstay and immigration violations.
As of press time, the Nigerian government had not released an official response to the updated visa rules.
The development has left many prospective travelers and travel agencies scrambling for clarity, with concerns that the latest measures could hinder personal travel, business opportunities, and tourism between the two countries.
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